Another "Snow Day"

Today's a political "snow day" for us.  On Friday, what seemed to be a skirmish between high school students turned into a tribal feud that has continued through today.  We've read various accounts of why and who, but it still remains a bit unclear.

We do know that the clashes are between two tribes, one Nubian and the other Arab.  These tribes have deep roots of resentment that stem from the Nubian forced relocation (by Arabs) in the 1960s from a near-Nile residence to a more desert terrain.  

Yesterday we received 2 calls and 1 visit from our local friends updating us on the city happenings. They also included warnings for us to stay in.  You see, we live in a Nubian village.  As of yesterday, the villagers placed a checkpoint at the front of the village so that they could control who comes in and out.  The threats between tribes still continue.  The police have been onsite, then off, then on again.  

Egypt in general continues to have country-wide problems and a localized one such as this just creates more instability. The army arrived yesterday via helicopters and armored trucks and are now scattered throughout the area.

I'm shocked sometimes at myself at how "normal" such a heavy military presence seems to me.  I try to imagine what my reaction would be if I saw the same thing in our hometown in the U.S.  I can't.  Yet here it's become a part of every day life.  

We purchased groceries on Saturday not knowing all that was transpiring just a few short blocks away.  Now we pray and wait for the "all clear" from our friends.  There's no immediate threat to us.  We just don't want to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Much of what is being discussed is that both groups want justice.  However, justice has very different meanings depending on the group you are talking to… So it's with much love for these dear people that we pray for Jesus to reveal Himself to them so that true justice and mercy can be applied in only the way the heart can really understand.

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,

    and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

    blessed are all those who wait for him."

Isaiah 30:18